Surrey School District received construction dollars from province – but is it enough?

Surrey School District receives construction dollars from province – but is it enough?

By Tammy SchuSTer

In May, Premier Christy Clark announced a $74.2 million commitment to help deal with overcrowded schools in Surrey. This comes as a big relief as Surrey is the province’s fastest-growing city and new school construction will create room for 2,700 students. But to many, this should be viewed as just the beginning.

“I wouldn’t say it’s catching us up, but it’s certainly helping,” says Shawn Wilson, chair of the Surrey Board of Education. “Here in Surrey, we have the core of Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster bulging out into Surrey, Langley, Aldergrove, and Abbotsford.”

Growth in Surrey has been steady for many years and Surrey Mayor Linda Hepner says families are moving to the city because of its affordability in an otherwise expensive region. She says being ready for students on a timelier basis has been an ongoing conversation.

Wilson says the board has been trying to convince the Ministry of Education that this dramatic growth happening in Surrey is consistent and will continue. It’s not just funding that is needed, but simplifying and expediting the process of planning for new schools needs to occur.

“The board and the district management have witnessed this firestorm of growth and its effect on our schools,” says Wilson. “The government hasn’t been in a position to respond in a manner that allows us to have schools ready for kids when surrounding schools are over capacity.”

Wilson says a school can handle being 10 to 15 per cent over capacity with the use of portables and other resources. But, schools such as Lord Tweedsmuir and Earl Marriot Secondary

Portables in use at Cambridge Elementary School - it is hoped funding will lessen the need for portable use at Surrey schools.

Salish Secondary School, one of the new schools currently under construction in Surrey.

Schools are at 40 to 50 per cent over capacity and he says growth will continue while the new schools are under construction.

Wilson says the board is looking at new ways to work with government to structure the school planning, which includes input from the city and the ministry that would get things moving faster.

“We know how to do this, but we all get bogged down by our inability to deal with growth in the city and our inability to pull money out when we need it,” says Wilson, adding that he believes that will happen. “When the premier of the province is here in Surrey and says we have to look at new ways to deal with overcrowding in Surrey schools, that gives me confidence.”

During the premier’s visit, she said they were already in talks with Surrey to figure out ways to improve the process.

Together, with $25.3 million from the Surrey school district, and $74.2 million from the province, the total amount will be $99.5 million invested into developing school infrastructure in Surrey.

The funds will go towards expanding existing elementary schools, build a new elementary school and a new secondary school, and purchase land for another new elementary school, and are expected to be complete in 2020.

“I really think this is a community that will continue to grow, it’s been consistent for many years, and it’s not going to stop,” says Wilson. “I believe discussions will occur to support the growth of Surrey and get schools under construction much faster than they have in the past.” n

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